Palin Paler

[filkertom]

Robert J. Elisberg has an exhaustive analysis of why the choice of Sarah Palin sucks.

(Full disclosure: I had already decided that pretty much every post I make on Palin between now and the election will include the "wtf" tag.)

ETA: Yahoo News has a headline right now - "Presidential Scholars Question Palin's Credentials". Jayzus. Most people's house pets are questioning Palin's credentials right now, y'know? The scholars are a day late.

Comments

As a onetime Alaskan

[capplor.livejournal.com]

I am appalled when I read her record. & I expect that someone will insist that she stay home & take care of her children.

She has, in less than two years, considerably damaged the State economy, gotten into an ethics debacle, & admitted her ignorance of the workings of the US Constitution.

Sounds like a perfect Republican?

Re: As a onetime Alaskan

[zibblsnrt.livejournal.com]

Nah, a perfect Republican would never admit ignorance of the workings of the US Constitution, but merely demonstrate it.

Re: As a onetime Alaskan

[concertigrossi.livejournal.com]

BTW, "admitted her ingnorance of the workings of the US Constitution?"

Are you talking about her not knowing about what the VP does, or some other horror that I haven't seen yet?

Re: As a onetime Alaskan

[gypsylady.livejournal.com]

Every Alaskan I met while there in May loves her, though. It proves nothing, since Alaska deliberately built the state's capital with no over land access just so the government would be isolated and separate from real life.

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

Good article - but I detected a hint of wishful thinking there.

"What Sarah Palin's nomination does do is focus attention on John McCain's age. Indeed, the nomination was made on his birthday, when he turned 72, the oldest man ever to run for president. As the crowd sang "Happy Birthday to You," you almost sensed that through John McCain's clenched smile, saying, "Thanks for reminding me," that what he was thinking underneath was "Please, oh, please, don't sing the 'How old are you now?' part." And how good a message was it that he's saying he supposedly forgot it was his birthday?"

Elisberg...must not have been watching the same clip I was. Alternatively (and I do not rule out this possibility) I am a bad observer, because McCain didn't seem to have a "clenched" smile or any nervousness. The dude seemed happy and at ease placing Palin on the ticket.

I'm all for dissecting Palin's presence on the ticket. But there's a difference between analysis and projection, and in this instance at least, Elisberg makes it projection here. Doesn't take away from the rest of the article, but it's something to be watchful of IMO.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

It could just be a generalized image of McCain's clenched smile. I think he looks like a cadaver on walkabout.

[gypsylady.livejournal.com]

Or constipated. I'm going with constipated.

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

*laughs*

[amazingadrian.livejournal.com]

I've been hearing lots about her dismal environmental record, since even before the election one of the environmental group watchdogs I have in my daily inbox kept complaining about the situation in Alaska almost constantly.

If McCain wasn't going to get my vote before, he definitely won't be now. What a ham-headed pick for the veep.

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

To me, the Palin pick betrays a lot. The fact that McCain's only met her twice, the sudden selection - I get the feeling that McCain chose Palin at the very last minute, once they knew that Biden was Obama's pick, and he hadn't gone with Sebelius or Hillary.

To me, that indicates that the Democrats pretty decisively have the initiative at the moment.

[kengr]

I wonder if he heard all the stuff about Cheney being Bush's life insurance policy and was dumb enough to pick her with that intent.

[robin-june.livejournal.com]

Anyone else care to speculate with me as to whether Geena Davis would make a better Commander In Chief?

(reference: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0429455/ )

[kengr]

The more I hear about her, the more I think we are living a mirror universe version of Heinlein's "over the rainbow" scenario from "Expanded Universe"

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

Gwuh? How so?

[kengr]

Have you ever read it?

Basic idea was that a black woman was chosen for VP to get votes. And when there's an accident and the pres dies, she does the unexpected and takes up the reins instead of resigning (remember, this was almost 20 years before "Commander in Chief")

And then she does various good, libertarian things. And everybody lives happily ever after.

Palin winding up as Pres because McCain dies (not at all unlikely) would be the mirror universe (like in Star Trek) version of the above.

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

I've read the story (and really enjoyed it); I just wasn't putting it and the mirror universe ref AND the McCain/Palin ticket all together. Thanks for the clarification :)

[gypsylady.livejournal.com]

Not everyone's house pet is questioning Palin's credentials. My dog has been pretty sure she's got none from the git go. Then again, my dog gets to watch Olbermann and listen to things like Rachel Maddow's show and whenever I can stream Seder vs. Maron (http://samsedershow.com/) he gets very excited.

I'm having mental flashes of Palin dragging the baby swing and breast pump and baby into the Situation Room. And I'm so very sorry no one from "The West Wing" thought of writing this scenario into at least one season of the show. I am all for breaking the glass ceiling but there are some jobs you just can't take your baby to...

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Most people's house pets are questioning Palin's credentials right now, y'know?
Love your phrasing, as usual...

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

She's a perfect sockpuppet for the oil concerns and the religious right. What more qualifications does she need?

[nimitzbrood.livejournal.com]

I for one would much prefer Triumph the Comic Insult Dog as McLame's VP sockpuppet.

Then at least we'd get some truth in the White House if he gets elected:

"That's a great foreign policy...FOR ME TO POOP ON!"

[palenoue.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to someone editing up McCain's nomination speech with Michael Palin quotes from Holy Grail. I just know "Help Help! I'm being repressed!" and "Oh! Come see the violence inherent in the system!" will fit in there just fine.

[concertigrossi.livejournal.com]

Have you seen the partial list of Republican women more qualified to be President than Sarah Palin? (http://www.r8ny.com/blog/gatemouth/partial_list_of_republican_women_more_qualified_to_be_president_than_sarah_palin.html)

It is to weep. I feel like sending Kay Bailey Hutchinson a condolence card.

I swear to God, he chose the political equivalent of a booth babe.

In Which Tom Lowers The Tone Of The Conversation, Just For A Moment

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I have already seen the vulgar term VPILF (someone linked to a LOLpic in a previous thread, and the term has been used on other blogs). Except to reference it here, mostly so that you're not surprised by it, I will not use it.

Neither will I disagree with it. But I won't use it.

Re: In Which Tom Lowers The Tone Of The Conversation, Just For A Moment

[concertigrossi.livejournal.com]

Oh, there's already a website. (http://www.vpilf.com/)

The more I think about this whole thing, the angrier I get.

Re: In Which Tom Lowers The Tone Of The Conversation, Just For A Moment

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I'd heard about that. Moreover, I heard the domain was registered in June. I can only presume the idea was to boost/mock Hillary Clinton if Obama picked her for the ticket.

Re: In Which Tom Lowers The Tone Of The Conversation, Just For A Moment

[concertigrossi.livejournal.com]

Do you know what her degree is in? She has a BS in Communications-Journalism, with a minor in Political Science. From the University of Idaho.

Obama was the EDITOR of the goddamned HARVARD LAW REVIEW.

SHE HAD A MINOR IN POLI-SCI AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE VICE PRESIDENT DOES ALL DAY.

*runs around in circles and thumps head on table*

[dan-ad-nauseam.livejournal.com]

This morning I heard an NPR commentator predicting that the Palin selection was intended to boost McCain's reformer credentials and challenge Obama on the "candidate of change" meme.

I don't think it's going to work.

[qnofhrt.livejournal.com]

That's nothing - some of the Republicans they had on the Sunday morning talking heads shows (Lindsey Graham and somebody from MeSame's campaign) actually said "She has MORE experience than Obama"

For a spirited and on-point reply to all that, see John Kerry's reply:

http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek

[dan-ad-nauseam.livejournal.com]

I'm not surprised about that. Some of the parrots (as opposed to parrotheads) on my political mailing list have been spewing that talking point.